10 Cover Songs Much Better Than The Original

5. The Beatles - "Twist And Shout" (The Top Notes)

People can (and probably will) argue for eternity whether The Isley Brothers or The Beatles performed a better version of "Twist and Shout." Some are adamant that the Fab Four's appropriation of R&B was disingenuous and shallow, while others claim John Lennon made that song with his crazy, gravelly vocal style.

And although we may never come to an agreement on this, here's something we all can agree on: Both versions are better than the 1961 original recorded by The Top Notes. The groovy, Phil Spector-produced tune is a cutesy surf rock jam that sacrifices a lot of heart and soul for the sake of capturing the "sound of the day," and even the writer of "Twist and Shout" hated the way it came off. Meanwhile, both the Isleys and the Beatles knocked it out of the park. I personally prefer The Beatles' version, if only because those damn vocals literally scream rock and roll, but much respect is due to The Isley Brothers for transforming it into a classic sing-along.